Spring-wheel.



J. G. RINEHART.

SPRING WHEEL.

V APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 15,-1910. 1,01 0,688.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

l 336'" 1 l 1 u .oLuMum PLAxuGlem'ncu, WASHINGTON. n.1;

4UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

J'OHN C. RINEHART, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THERINEHART RESI'LIENT WHEEL COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OFVALEXANDRIA, VIR- fGINIA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

4Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. v5, 1911.

Application filed October 15, 1910. Serial No. 587,141.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. RINEHART, a citizen of the United States,residing at 1713 Lincoln avenue Northeast, Washington, District ofColumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-VVheels,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels and has especial reference to aresilient wheel A second object of the invention is to pro-- vide anovel manner of connecting the resilient spokes to the hub of the wheelso that the spokes will be prevented from yielding in any other mannerthan that for kwhich they are designed.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved form of spokefor use in connection with such a wheel.

With the above and other objects in view, as will `be hereinafterapparent, the invention consists in general of certain novelarrangements of det-ails and combinations of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specilically setforth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and; Figure 1 is a side elevation of avehicle wheel constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is asection on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2but showing a modication of the device. Fig. 4 is a detail view showingcertain lugs hereinafter referred to.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawingsthere is pro vided a wheel hub 10 of cylindrical form and ofthe rib 12is fitted a plate 14, the latter being held in position by means ofbolts 15. This plate is of such dimensions that there is formed aroundthe rib a circumferential channel wherein is litted a sleeve 16, thesleeve, plate and rib being so dimensioned that the sleeve frictionallyengages the rib and plate in such manner that the sleeve can only rotateon the rib under such abnormal conditions as may be brought about by thewheel meeting some obstruction or being given some other extraordinaryshock which would tend to interfere with the rotation of the wheel rimsynchronously with the hub. f

It will benoted that by means of this sleeve the starting and stoppingof the car will be accomplished in a smooth manner, as there will befrictional engagement between the sleeve and collar whichr would permita certain yielding and relieve shock.

In order to prevent too great latitude of movement of the sleeveindependently of the hub certain limiting lmeans are employed whichconsist of lingers 17 projecting radially from the hub and lugs 18projecting laterally from the sleeve and engaged by the fingers when thesleeve has rotated a predetermined extent around the hub.

Extending circumferentially around the sleeve are spoke clamping members19 which are provided with pockets 20 to receive the inner ends 21 ofthe spokes, these pockets and ends being preferably of polygonal crosssection in order to prevent the rotation of the spokes in the pockets.There has here been shown a construction in which both of the members 19bare attached to the sleeve by bolts 22. The spokes themselves eachcomprise an inner portion 21, as previously described,'which extendsradially of the hub, a central portion 23 which is curved in such manneras to have its axis in a plane radial of the hub or in other words iscurved laterally of the hub, and an outer radial portion which is inalinement with the portion 21 and is indicated at 24. In the form shownin Fig. 2 the spokes are all curved in the same direction while intheform shown in Fig. 3 the spokes are alternately curved in oppositedirections.

The rim of the wheel or felly is shown at 25 and this rim may eitherhave a smooth periphery, be provided with transverse slots 26 to hold atire 27, or be provided with a channel 28 to receive a tire 29, the lastmentioned form being shown respectively in Figs. 1 and 3. Within the rim25 are internal circumferential clamping members 30 which are providedwith pockets for the reception of the outer ends of the spokes and whichare held in position by bolts 31. By means of this constructiontheremoval of one of the clamping members 19 and the correspondingclamping member 30 will permit the removal and replacement of any spokein the event of damage to such spoke.

It will be particularly noted that the inner and outer ends of eachspoke are in radial alinement and that each spoke tapers uniformly fromend to end.

In the operation of this wheel it is obvious that the ordinary shocksincident to inequalities in the road will be absorbed by the spokes, thelatter being of resilient material, and that because of the peculiararrangement and alinement of the inner and outer ends of the spokes therim of the wheel will be at all times held in a plane perpendicular tothe aXis of rotation and lateral deflection thereby prevented. There hasthus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind describedand for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of this invention without departing from the materialprinciples thereof. It is not there- :tore desired to confine theinvention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wishedto include all such as properly comev within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and isdesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is;

l. A spring wheel comprising a hub, a sleeve frictionally but slidablyengaged over said hub, a rim, and resilient spokes secured to said rimand sleeve, each of said spokes having a central bowed portion lying ina plane at right-angles to the plane of the wheel; in combination withmeans to limit the revolution of said sleeve on said hub.

2. A spring wheel comprising a hub, a sleeve frictionally butslidablyengaged over said hub, a rim, and resilient spokes secured to said rimand sleeve, each of said spokes having a central bowed portion lying ina plane at right-angles to the plane of the wheel; in combination withfingers projecting radially from said hub, and a lug projectinglaterally from said sleeve between said fingers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. RINEHART.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. JONES, JOHN H. TORNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, ID. C.

